Allergy barrier for bedding

ABSTRACT

An allergy barrier for bedding comprised of a sheet adapted to fit a wide variety of mattress depths by enclosing a top, all sides, and a portion of the bottom of a mattress. A pull string inserted within an outer hem of the sheet where the pull string is adapted to secure the sheet to the mattress. The pull string terminates outside of the outer hem. The sheet is made of a material having a mean average pore size of less than ten (10) microns.

RELATED CASES

This application claims the priority of the provisional application Ser.No. 60/835,833 filed Aug. 4, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an allergy barrier for bedding that isair permeable and comfortable. This allergy barrier fits a wide varietyof mattresses, yet can be easily fitted over the mattress by one person.The allergy barrier prevents the passage of dust mites or their fecalparticles from the mattress through the allergy barrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The principal generator of indoor allergens, are microscopic creatures.These creatures are called dust mites. A dust mite ranges from 100 to300 microns in size and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Dust miteexcrement, which is a key component that causes allergic reactions, iseven smaller. Dust mite excrement ranges in size down to 10 microns.Therefore, in order to provide an effective barrier to dust, dust mites,and their allergy-causing particles, a fabric or material must becapable of limiting the transmission of 10 micron particles through itssurface.

Fabrics having a beneficial pore structure are discussed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,582,747 and more recently fabrics with a consistent pore structureare discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,770.

The dust mites found in the home generally have high concentrations inthe bedroom. This is due in part to the favorably conditions found inbedding. Dust mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as a mattresswith someone laying on it. An average mattress is capable of supportinga colony of 2 million dust mites. Pillows also provide an excellenthabitat for dust mites. Ten percent of the weight of a two-year oldpillow can be comprised of dust mites and their feces. Sofa cushions,chair cushions, carpets, and other foam or fiber filled articles alsoprovide a suitable habitat for dust mites. In effect, every homecontains many areas where dust mites can thrive.

The presence of allergens from dust mites is a problem that increases asmattresses become older. During its lifetime, a typical dust miteproduces up to 200 times its net body weight in excrement. Thisexcrement contains the allergen that triggers asthma attacks andallergic reactions, including congestion, red eyes, sneezing, andheadaches. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that it is difficultto remove dust mites from the materials in which they thrive. Mattressesare usually never washed.

Protective covers which encapsulated the mattress or pillow have beensuggested, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,861 and US Publication number2002/0148047. These protective covers usually have two problems. First,they are difficult for one person to put on or take off of a mattressalone. Second, they usually have an ineffective closure that may allowmites or their fecal particle through. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,321,861 advises covering the zipper attachment means with adhesivetape to block allergen pass-through.

There is a need for an improved mattress encasement which is aneffective shield against dust mites and their fecal particulates, but italso needs to be easy to apply to a mattress by one person. The zipperedencasement systems which have been offered so far are difficult to geton or off a mattress especially with larger and heavier mattress sizes.This might induce people to launder them less often or never, whichlessens the effectiveness of the encasement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An allergy barrier for bedding comprised of a sheet adapted to fit awide variety of mattress depths by enclosing a top, all sides, and aportion of the bottom of a mattress. A pull string inserted within anouter hem of the sheet where the pull string is adapted to secure thesheet to the mattress. The pull string terminates outside of the outerhem. The sheet is made of a material having a mean average pore size ofless than ten (10) microns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will become more readily apparent by referring to thefollowing detailed description and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the allergy barrier;

FIG. 2 is another bottom view of the allergy barrier showing the detailsof the hem;

FIG. 2A shows the detail of the outer hem, drawstring ends and lockingdevice;

FIG. 2B shows the detail of the tack point;

FIG. 2C shows an exposed view of the drawstring within the outer hem andthe tack point;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an alternative allergy barrier;

FIG. 4 is another bottom view of the alternative allergy barrier showingthe details of the hem;

FIG. 4A shows the detail of the outer hem, drawstring ends and lockingdevice;

FIG. 4B shows the detail of the tack point; and

FIG. 4C shows an exposed view of the drawstring within the outer hem andthe tack point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An allergy barrier 10, FIG. 1, for bedding comprised of a sheet 20adapted to fit a wide variety of mattress depths by enclosing a top, allsides, and a portion of the bottom of a mattress. A pull string 30, FIG.2C, inserted within an outer hem 40 of the sheet where the pull string30 is adapted to secure the sheet 20 to the mattress. The pull string 30terminates outside of the outer hem 40 of the sheet 20, as shown in FIG.2A. The sheet 20 is made of a material having a mean average pore sizeof less than ten (10) microns. This material is selected from the groupof a microporous film, a tightly woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, anon-porous fabric or a laminate of one or more of these types offabrics.

This allergy barrier in one embodiment uses a sheet 20 having no exposedenclosure means on the top and all sides of the allergy barrier. Theenclosure means consists of the group of: zippers, snaps, hook and looptype closure means, buttons, fasteners, connectors, latches, hooks orcombinations thereof.

The allergy barrier in one embodiment has no elastic band fitted to thesheet 20, or in the outer hem 40.

The sheet 20, of the allergy barrier 10, comes in four basic types usedfor mattress encasings: plastic film, plastic laminates, nonwovens andtightly woven fabrics. Each of these materials are capable of providinga barrier which has a mean pore size of less than 10 microns.

Plastic film sheets use a non-porous plastic film. Examples of such afilm include but are not limited to vinyl, polyethylene, polypropylene,polybutylene, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate and combinationsthereof. These are the oldest type, and one of the first things thatcome to mind when most people think of an allergy encasing. They areinexpensive, and effective, yet uncomfortable—stiff, noisy and they donot breathe. Vinyl is a film which is not porous, which has been used asa mattress cover. As a result, many people will remove these vinylencasings after a few days of use.

Laminate sheets are the next generation of encasings. These are stillwidely used, and are the type generally available at places like allergysupply companies. When these laminates were first developed, theyrepresented a great advance over the plastic film barriers. They aremade by laminating (fusing) a plastic-type microporous membrane to afabric. These microporous plastics are selected from the group of:polyurethane, polyethylene, polybutylene, polypropylene and combinationsthereof. The membrane side is against the pillow or mattress, and thefabric side is exposed, beneath the bed linens. The person is thereforenot sleeping on the plastic directly, making a laminate sheet slightlymore comfortable than a plastic film barrier.

Laminates have several problems, however, that have prevented a broaderacceptance. The first problem with laminates is that, although lessrigid than vinyl, they do have some stiffness to them. This isespecially noticeable on the pillow. Second, they are not onlyallergen-proof—they are airtight. Although some laminates have beenadvertised as being “breathable”, this refers only to the fact that insome of the better quality laminates a minute amount of water vapor canpass through the membrane. Although this represents an advance overvinyl, the fact is that no laminate is truly breathable; that is, noneof them allow the passage of air. Once an encasing of this type iszipped closed around a pillow, the pillow becomes like a balloon, withair trapped in the encasing. And if you force the air out by pressing onthe pillow, the air—and probably dust mite allergens along withit—escapes through the zipper.

The third and perhaps biggest problem with some of the older laminateencasings is that they often de-laminate, that is, with repeated washingand drying a plastic membrane may separate from the fabric onto which ithad been coated, making the encasing unusable.

Non-woven sheets are another type of encasing material. An older exampleof a non-woven fabric is felt. This is made by gluing short pieces ofyarn to each other to form a mass. This material is in contrast to awoven fabric where the long warp and weft yarns are alternately wovenabove and below each other on a loom. Newer non-woven microfiber fabricsare effective and inexpensive allergen barriers, but some are not madeto withstand machine washing, and generally they do not have thestrength or durability of a tightly woven encasings.

Tightly woven materials made of synthetic or a combination of syntheticand natural fibers are found to be very effective as an allergy barrier.With the proper tight weave it is possible to produce a polyester fabricwhich has a mean pore size of less than 10 microns and in one embodimenteven less than 8 micron mean pore size.

Microfiber woven sheets are a type of allergen-barrier encasing whichbelong to the group of tightly woven materials. They are constructedfrom microfiber fabrics: new high-tech fabrics made of fibers so thinand yarns so tightly woven that there is no space between the weave ofthe yarns large enough to allow the passage of allergen molecules. Sincethe microfiber fabric is itself acting as a filter that preventsallergen escape, encasings made from a true microfiber do not need themembrane. Without the membrane they are truly breathable, that is, bothair and water vapor can pass freely through the fabric, even thoughallergen cannot. They are therefore extremely comfortable, actuallyimperceptible in use. The microfibers may be synthetic or a blend ofsynthetic and natural fibers. Through the use of microfibers it ispossible to obtain a fabric with a mean pore size of less than 10microns. In one embodiment it is possible to achieve a mean pore size ofless than 6 microns and in another embodiment a mean pore size of lessthan 4 microns.

The allergy barrier of the invention is adapted to easily be applied orremoved by a single person. It is surprising that one cover for each ofthe mattress sizes can be easily handled by a single person. With theadvent of pillow top mattresses and overstuffed mattresses it is oftendifficult for a single person to put a fitted sheet on these types ofmattresses. The standard mattress sizes are usually referred to as:twin, long twin, double, full, queen, king, and California king. Theproblem with most mattress encasements currently being offered is thatthey are difficult to be handled by a single person, and therefore theytend not to be laundered regularly. If the mattress encasements are notlaundered at regular intervals dust might colonies can grow on thesurface of the mattress encasement.

The allergy barrier in another embodiment may further comprise a lockingdevice 50 for the pull string, as shown in FIG. 2A. The locking devicemay be a spring loaded catch.

The allergy barrier in one of the embodiments of the invention has anouter hem 40 of the sheet 20 that forms substantially a rectangle on theunder side of the mattress. It will be noted that because the inventionuses fabric that the sides of the rectangle may not be straight or thecorners formed at right angles, in fact the corners will probably appearrounded, FIG. 2, but here we are speaking of the shape in general. Therectangle has four corners and four sides and further has eight pullstring ends, two in each corner, FIG. 2A. The two pull string ends 35 ineach corner are adapted for securely gathering material of the sheet ineach corner, where pull string ends terminate outside said outer hem.

The allergy barrier 10 in one embodiment has two pull string ends 35,FIG. 2A. In another embodiment the allergy barrier 10 has two pullstring ends 35 in each corner FIG. 2. In one embodiment a locking device50 for each pair of pull string ends 35, FIG. 2, is provided. Thelocking device 50 may be a spring loaded catch of conventional design.The allergy barrier having two pull string ends in each corner mayfurther comprising a tack point 60, FIG. 2B, located about center ofeach side of said outer hem. The tack point keeps the pull string 30 ina predetermined position, FIG. 2, so that it cannot be pulled completelythrough the channel of the outer hem 40.

In one embodiment of the invention the allergy barrier 100, FIG. 3, isfurther fitted with a reinforced orifice 70 adapted to journal the pullstring ends 35 as shown in greater detail in FIG. 4A. The reinforcedorifice can be plastic, metal, fiber stitched reinforcing or acombination thereof. With metal reinforcement it is important to choosea metal which will not rust or oxidize when subjected to repeatedlaunderings. It is possible to use a metal which is coated to avoid thisproblem. If stitched it is possible to use multiple stitches forstrength or a higher strength thread or yarn. In this embodiment it isalso possible to include a tack point 60, FIGS. 4B and 4C, on the outerhem 40, to keep the pull string 30 in place. In addition a lockingdevice 50, FIG. 4A can also be fitted to the pull string ends 35, sothat the pull string can be cinched without tying.

In another embodiment of the invention the allergy barrier 10, FIG. 1,for bedding comprised of a sheet 20 adapted to fit a wide variety ofmattress depths by enclosing a top, all sides, and a portion of thebottom of a mattress. A pull string 30 inserted within an outer hem 40,FIG. 2C, of the sheet where the pull string 30 is adapted to secure thesheet 20 to the mattress. The pull string 30 terminates outside of theouter hem 40 of the sheet 20, FIG. 2A. The sheet 20 is made of anon-porous material. This non-porous material is a plastic film made ofeither polyethylene, polypropylene or co polymers thereof or vinyl.

This allergy barrier of the non-porous material in one embodiment uses asheet 20 having no exposed enclosure means on the top and all sides ofthe allergy barrier. The enclosure means consists of the group of:zippers, snaps, hook and loop type closure means, buttons, fasteners,connectors, latches, hooks or combinations thereof.

1. An allergy barrier for bedding comprising: a sheet adapted to fit awide variety of mattress depths by enclosing a top, all sides, and aportion of the bottom of a mattress; a pull string inserted within anouter hem of said sheet; said pull string being adapted to secure saidsheet to said mattress; said pull string terminating outside of saidouter hem; and said sheet being made of a material having a mean averagepore size of less than ten (10) microns.
 2. The allergy barrier of claim1 where said sheet having no exposed enclosure means on said top and allsides.
 3. The allergy barrier of claim 1 where enclosure means consistsof the group of zippers, snaps, hook and loop type closure means,buttons, fasteners, connectors, latches, hooks or combinations thereof.4. The allergy barrier of claim 1 where said sheet being adapted toeasily be applied or removed by a single person.
 5. The allergy barrierof claim 1 further comprising a locking device for said pull string. 6.The allergy barrier of claim 1 where said outer hem of said sheet formssubstantially a rectangle on the under side of said mattress, saidrectangle having four corners, and four sides and further comprisingeight pull string ends, two in each corner adapted for securelygathering material of said sheet in each corner, where pull string endsterminate outside said outer hem.
 7. The allergy barrier of claim 6further comprising a locking device for each pair of pull string ends.8. The allergy barrier of claim 6 further comprising a tack pointlocated about center of each side of said outer hem.
 9. The allergybarrier of claim 6 further comprising a reinforced orifice in eachcorner adapted to journal said pull string ends.
 10. The allergy barrierof claim 1 where said material is selected from the group consisting of:a microporous film; a tightly woven fabric; a nonwoven fabric; a wovenfabric; or a laminate of one or more of the above listed fabrics orfilms.
 11. An allergy barrier for bedding comprising: a sheet adapted tofit a wide variety of mattress depths by enclosing a top, all sides, anda portion of the bottom of a mattress; said sheet being made of amaterial having a mean average pore size of less than ten (10) microns;said material being selected from the group consisting of: a microporousfilm; a tightly woven fabric; a nonwoven fabric; a woven fabric; or alaminate of one or more of the above listed fabrics or films; where saidsheet has no exposed enclosure means on said top and all sides; aplurality of pull strings inserted within an outer hem of said sheet;said pull strings being adapted to secure said sheet to said mattress;where said outer hem of said sheet forms substantially a rectangle on anunder side of said mattress, said rectangle having four corners, andfour sides and further comprising eight pull string ends, two in eachcorner adapted for securely gathering material of said sheet in eachcorner; where pull string ends terminate outside said outer hem; and areinforced orifice in each corner adapted to journal said pull stringends.
 12. The allergy barrier of claim 11 where said sheet having noexposed enclosure means on said top and all sides.
 13. The allergybarrier of claim 11 further comprising a tack point located about centerof each side of said outer hem.
 14. The allergy barrier of claim 11where said sheet being adapted to easily be applied or removed by asingle person.
 15. The allergy barrier of claim 11 further comprising alocking device for said pull string.
 16. The allergy barrier of claim 11where said sheet is made of a tightly knit synthetic fabric.
 17. Theallergy barrier of claim 11 where said reinforced orifice is selectedfrom the group consisting of: plastic, metal, fiber stitched reinforcingor a combination thereof.
 18. An allergy barrier for bedding comprising:a sheet adapted to fit a wide variety of mattress depths by enclosing atop, all sides, and a portion of the bottom of a standard mattress; apull string inserted within an outer hem of said sheet; said pull stringbeing adapted to secure said sheet to said mattress; and said sheetbeing made of a material that is not porous.
 19. The allergy barrier ofclaim 9 where said sheet having no exposed enclosure means on said topand all sides.
 20. The allergy barrier of claim 9 where said sheet beingadapted to easily be applied or removed by a single person.